Expert: Proposed Hinckley visit plan risky

Expert on risk assessments of would-be assassins says he doesn't support expanded visits to Kingsmill

January 30, 2012|By Yvonne D. Hawkins, For the Daily Press

WASHINGTON — An expert in risk assessments of would-be assassins testified Monday in U.S. District Court he doesn't support expanding John Hinckley Jr.'s conditional releases from St. Elizabeths Hospital.

Dr. Robert Phillips, a psychiatrist, said he doesn't believe the hospital's proposal to extend Hinckley's visits to his mother's Kingsmill home "adequately manages" his risks.

Phillips, who is also a medical doctor, said those risk factors include whether he shows interest in an assassination target, even if the interest isn't about an assassination or attempted assassination itself. U.S. Secret Service surveillance reports of Hinckley during his Kingsmill visits say that Hinckley has focused on shelves in a Williamsburg bookstore that include books about President Ronald Reagan and assassinations.

In 1982, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 1981 shootings of Reagan and three other men outside a Washington hotel. Hinckley has been under St. Elizabeths' care since then.

Hinckley's treatment team diagnosed him as suffering from major depressive and psychotic disorders, but doctors say those conditions are in full remission. Phillips testified he now would diagnosis Hinckley's depression as being in partial remission. Hinckley also was diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder, and doctors agree those traits remain.

The hospital proposes allowing Hinckley two 17-day releases to visit his mother, followed by six 24-day visits. The proposal also calls for Hinckley to have unaccompanied driving time during visits and receive convalescence leave after he completes all the visits.

Hinckley currently is allowed one 10-day visit each month with several hours of unaccompanied time. But hospital officials recently restricted visits to five days with no unaccompanied time because Hinckley lied about some of his activities during visits.

Under direct examination from Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Chasson, Phillips said Monday that in 1999 or 2000 Hinckley had shown interest presidential assassinations. Hinckley was interested in music compact disc titles about "the dead Kennedys," Phillips said. Phillips also testified that three times from 1999 to 2000 Hinckley picked up books from shelves in bookstores about presidential assassinations.

He said if inferences, based on Secret Service agents' observations, that Hinckley fixated on books about Reagan and assassinations are true, then given Hinckley's previous interest in presidential assassinations Hinckley's recent behavior would be of "concern."

Phillips also said it is concerning if the fixation happened two different times — as agents' reports say — even if Hinckley didn't pick up the books on those occasions. Phillips testified Hinckley's other risk factors include isolation, his relationships, compliance with taking medications, and diagnoses of depression, psychosis and narcissism.

"With Mr. Hinckley there are factors that are a byproduct of why we're in this courtroom that have to be considered," Phillips said.

Phillips said he is most concerned about Hinckley's isolation, even though Hinckley has done well in certain parts of his visits. Hinckley has successfully reconnected with his family, showing concern if one of his siblings can't join him during visits, Phillips said. Hinckley also enjoys his volunteer jobs and is good at what he does, Phillips said.

However, Hinckley hasn't made any friends in Williamsburg, hasn't joined any groups there and rarely interacts with people socially, Phillips said.

"He has not done anything to increase his socialization, which is basically the remedy for isolation," Phillips said.

Phillips' testimony continues Tuesday morning.

Earlier Monday, Dr. Raymond Patterson was cross-examined by Hinckley's lead lawyer, Barry Levine. Levine noted the July 2009 court order allowing Hinckley's monthly visits also required him to carry a cell phone with GPS capabilities at all times during this trips. Patterson, a former director of forensic services at St. Elizabeths, said he hadn't checked any GPS-generated data from Hinckley's cell phone.

Judge Paul Friedman, who is presiding over the hearing, and lawyers from both sides discussed how to obtain any data from Hinckley's cell phone service provider and whether that data could help monitor Hinckley's whereabouts.

At issue is whether GPS data can determine whether Hinckley was at a Williamsburg movie theater or a Barnes & Noble store across the street during his visits.

Because of several breaks in the schedule, it is unclear when the hearing will end.

What's at stake

The hearing: Judge Paul Friedman is presiding over a hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington to determine whether to grant more and longer releases for John Hinckley Jr., the man who shot President Reagan in 1981.

Background: Hinckley currently is allowed 10-day, monthly releases to his mother's Kingsmill home. The latest proposal would allow for two 17-day releases followed by six 24-day releases. Afterward, Hinckley would receive convalescence leave.